Before The White Lotus: 5 Patrick Schwarzenegger Roles That Prove He’s Got Talent
Although the actor is very convincing as the one-dimensional Saxon Ratliff, he is not always playing such morons.
When we hear about a case of a nepo baby becoming a star, we usually don't like it, thinking that everything they have is just pure luck of being born into the right family. So when Patrick Schwarzenegger claimed the role of Saxon in the new season of The White Lotus, some people said it was probably because he's the son of Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger.
However, even the creepy role of Saxon proves that the guy is extremely talented. The way he managed to make us hate his character in the show is powerful. But for Patrick, the role of a jerk was a new one, which just proves that he is a versatile actor.
Here are 5 previous roles that Patrick Schwarzenegger played perfectly. Check them out.
1. Midnight Sun (2018)
In a teen drama called Midnight Sun, Patrick took on the role of a male lead character, Charlie. He was the love interest of another teenager, Katie Price, played by Bella Thorne, whose life is complicated because she suffers from a unique condition that makes it impossible for her to be in the sunlight.
Charlie becomes a kind of escape for Katie as they begin a sweet summer romance. And Patrick's performance stood out as he navigated the complex dynamics of a relationship with someone facing immense challenges. His character in the movie is really likable.
2. The Long Road Home (2017)
In this National Geographic 8-part miniseries based on Martha Raddatz's bestseller, which follows a unit of U.S. soldiers during an ambush in Iraq in 2004, Patrick plays the role of Sgt. Ben Hayhurst. It was a rather important role in the series’ overall story.
At the time of the movie’s release, it was the biggest role he had ever landed, and in many ways it helped shape his talents for future roles.
3. Moxie (2021)
In this teen movie directed by Amy Poehler, Patrick Schwarzenegger plays Mitchell Wilson, a guy who is worse than your typical bad boy. In fact, he is also the main antagonist of the movie and even serves as the driving force of the plot (or rather, his actions do).
When toxic behavior begins to spread through her high school, Vivian Carter, inspired by her mother's rebellious past, creates a magazine that sparks a school-wide revolution. A notorious troublemaker, Mitchell is a major contributor to the school's deeply sexist atmosphere. His bullying ultimately motivates Vivian to take action and fight for change on behalf of her peers.
4. Gen V ( 2023-)
After the success of The Boys, it was only natural for it to receive a spinoff that would expand the universe and introduce even more multilayered characters. Among the most important ones was Golden Boy, whom Patrick Schwarzenegger portrayed flawlessly.
The funny thing is that many viewers, while genuinely liking the character of Golden Boy, were absolutely shocked when they realized that the actor playing him was Arnold Schwarzenegger's son.
“I know he’s on top of the nepo babies list right now but the guy is talented. He has lots of charisma. A little bit young for HL but I wish we had more of his role in Gen V,” Redditor vinnybawbaw said.
Even after his The White Lotus gig, Patrick has to fight the “nepo baby” allegations, but Gen V marked the moment when people finally started to realize that he is a lot more than just “the son of Arnold.”
5. The Staircase (2022)
The Staircase is a highly acclaimed HBO series starring the beloved Colin Firth and Toni Colette. It tells the story of a crime novelist, Michael, who is accused of killing his wife, Kathleen, after she is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home. What follows is a 16-year legal battle with a rather shocking twist in the finale.
Patrick takes on the role of Michael's son, Todd, and is a dark figure with a lot of mystery surrounding him. Many fans after finishing the whole series were left with a question “what if it was Todd who killed the woman?”
Also, fans of The White Lotus are now joking about how weird it is that the actor from Season 3 was also in The Staircase — especially considering that there are characters with the surname Ratliff in it.
"Conspiracy theory: Mike White knew people would find this connection, and would get more eyes on the miniseries which is on HBO Max, ” Redditor mahlay1051 joked.
